Stade Rennais could receive a significant financial windfall in 2027 thanks to a purchase option held by FC Nuremberg on defender Mikayil Faye. The 22-year-old, loaned to the German second division this season, must first prove his worth in Germany for this scenario to materialise.
Faye joined Stade Rennais FC from FC Barcelona in August 2024 for a fee of €10.3 million. The Catalan club retained a buy-back clause set at €25 million and 30% of any future sell-on fee. After a first season limited to eleven Ligue 1 appearances and an unproductive loan at Cremonese, the Senegalese international is now seeking to revive his career at Nuremberg.
The German Revival
German coach Miroslav Klose has noted improvements. "Mikayil is giving an increasingly positive impression," he said. "He has been training with the group for a while now. You can see the technical quality he possesses." The club had warned that Faye would not be an immediate solution given his recent lack of playing time. The goal is clear: to restore his rhythm and competitive level before the 2027 deadline.
For Stade Rennais FC, the stake is purely financial. Success for Faye in Germany would make Nuremberg's purchase option, the fee of which is not public but described as "realistic" by sporting director Joti Chatzialexiou, far more likely. This would allow the Breton club to recoup some, or even all, of its initial investment, while also receiving a percentage of any subsequent sale thanks to the Barcelona clause.
This operation is part of a squad management strategy where loans with options can turn into revenue. Faye's journey, who has yet to play an official match for Nuremberg this season, will be closely monitored by Stade Rennais FC' management. The immediate priority for Julien Stéphan remains preparing for the upcoming Ligue 1 fixtures, far from speculation on a case that will not be resolved before the summer of 2027.
